Registering arrangement for article dispensing systems



P. L. LAW

Aug. 26, 1952 REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet l m- D m. u Tm Wm H mmw mm. E m W W D D D mxm .xm v.0

Aug. 26, 1 952 P. L. LAW 2,608,348

REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18; 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jnmntm Peterl. law

FEGQ X.

Aug. 26, 1952 LAW 2,608,348

REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 15 I6 l7 Ila Q P R I? Attorneys Aug. 26, 1952 P. L. LAW 2,608,348

REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 P. L. LAW

Aug. 26, 1952 REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 lsnl I E 256M 25:12

Attorneys P. L. LAW

Aug. 26, 1952 REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 scZ bcl Isn4 PmerLLaI V By Attorneys Aug. 26, 1952 p LAW 2,608,348

REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 gl 25$ 29b as I 5 l TP H bp4 Aug. 26, 1952 P. LAW

REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 7* z 4: l- E H m E '5 I l N H .5 z:

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A- 0 5 N 0L0 2 Inventor Peter L. Law.

9 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG.8

P. L. LAW

REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG.| FIG.8

FIGZ FIGS FIG.4 FIG.6 FIG.5

FIG.9

lrwentoi' Peiar-Llaw Adornqys Patented Aug. 26, 1952 REGISTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEMS Peter Lincoln Law, Roseville; near Sydney, New SoutlrWales, Australia, assignor to Communication Engineering Pty. "Limited, Cammeray, near Sydney, State of New South Wales, Australia, a corporation of Australian Capital Territory Application August 18, 1949, Serial No. 110,979 In Australia August 30, 1948 18 Claims. 1 The invention relates to recording arrangements in article dispensing systems and in particular to arrangements for the recording of the values and/or other classifications assigned to articles dispensed in such systems.

It has been proposed to provide article dispensing systems with recording arrangements to record for example by visual indications the price or coupon value of selected articles when these articles are discharged from their respective shelves by the operation of keys over electrical circuits. To enable a customer to check the amount spent during theselection of his batch or order these indicators show progressively. the

added up prices of the selected articles.

In systems of this kind circuit arrangements are provided which are marked automatically corresponding'to; the price ofan article whenever the article is selected from its respective shelf. These markings are then transferred to an adding arrangement which adds the price of this article to the prices of the foregoing articles of the same order, and at a lamp indicator indicates progressively the amount of money spent so far.

The speed with which articles can be keyed up on the keyboard for selection depends largely on the time that is necessary to transfer the marking for an article to the adding arrangements to add up the prices ofrthe selected articles, and quite a considerable time is lost in setting up the price indicator for the progressive amounts, thus reducing the efficiency of the article dispensing system.

This difficulty is overcome according to the invention by the provision ofa plurality of counting devices, so arranged that the first free counting device picks up the marking of a selected article. This counting device locks itself and at the same time prepares the circuit for the next free counting device so that the next selected article marks the next counting device.

.While several counting devices are marked up by selected articles, the markings set upon the counting devices are one after the other transferred to the adding device, and this transfer from countin devices to the adding device proceeds whil other articlesare keyed up on the keyboard.

It is another feature of the invention to provide separate counting devices for each denomination which might occur in the value of a single article. L i

It is a further feature of the invention to provide the adding device with arrangements to transfer the recording in a lower denomination 2. p to a recording in ahigher denomination-' when the addedup values ofone orderreach the 'value of this higher denomination. According to a further feature of the invention the adding device comprises an adding switch for a lower denomination which stores the value of the higher denomination in a relay device when this switch reaches this highervalue and an adding switch for this higher denominationis busy, and said adding switch for the lower denomination then continues to add up values'in said lower denomination.

It'is still a further feature of the invention to provide the counting devices and the adding device with rotary switches, so arranged thata counting device is only free for furthercounting when the counting switch and the adding switch have stepped up the same number of steps.

It is another feature of the invention to connect the adding device with a lamp indicator showing the progressive value of one order, and to provide circuits to switch off said lamp indicator during stepping-up operationsof said adding device, and to switch said lamp indicator on again when said adding device has reached its final value. v

According to another th adding device is connected with a totalling device to transfer the added-up value for one order from the adding device to a registering arrangement to register the total value of articles keyed up on the keyboard during a certain time period.

It is still another feature of the invention to provide means to transfer the value indication from the adding device to the totalling device dependin on the completion of an order consisting of one or a plurality of articles. I

It is still a further feature of. the invention to make arrangements so that theadding switches are only freed for the next order. when the switches of the totalling device havestepped up the same number of steps as the adding switches.

According to another feature of the invention, the registering arrangements are provided with message registers to register the total value turned over by the article dispensing system, said message registers having contacts to control the re-setting of the switches of the totalling device.

It is a further feature of the invention to provide means to register separately thevalue of orders soldby each individual salesman, and, to control'simultaneously thetransfer of the addedup value of each order from the. adding device feature of the invention,

to the totalling device and the registering arrangement.

It is still a further feature of the invention to provide-counting devices, an'adding device and a totalling device for a plurality of indications characteristic for each selected article, e. g., to provide separate arrangements for the recording of the prices and the coupon values of each kind of article.

These and further features of the invention Will be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the drawingsshowing one embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 1 shows schematically the operators position of an article dispensing system together with the selecting relay group and the pricing frame;

Figs. 2 and 3 show the relay circuits for the counting devices. t

Fig. 4 shows the penny counting devices.

Fig. 5 shows the shilling counting devices.

Fig, 6 shows the circuit arrangements for the adding of pennies, shillings and pounds and the operation of corresponding indicator lamps;

Fig. 7 gives the circuits and switches for the totalling device. 7

Fig. 8 shows schematically message registers to indicate the total amount turned over in the dispensing system as well as the amounts turned over by various salesmen.

Figure 9 shows a composite arrangement of Figures 1 to 8, which gives a properly connected complete wiring diagram of the invention.

In the drawings the relays and their contacts are shown in accordance with the detached contact method whereby the contacts are not neces sarily shown next to their corresponding relays but at the place where they are used in the circuit, thus simplifying the circuit diagram. The relays are markedwith capital leters and corresponding contacts are marked with the same small letters and an additional figure distinguishing the various contacts of the same relay.

In Fig. 1 the operators position consists of a row of ten keys'KO to K9 which are used to key up the various digits of a code number designating a particular kind of article. It must be understood, however, that a separate key for each kind of article can be provided without altering the pricing arrangement described later on.

The operators position furthermore comprises a cancel key CK which is operated whenever a key 'was wrongly pressed or when a bin has been empty to energise the relay R and thus to restore all the circuits back to normal. An order complete key OK is operated whenever all items belonging to one order have been selected by the row of keys K0 to K9.

To enable a recordingof the amounts turned over by difierent salesmen additional salesmen keys SKI and SKZ with the relays ISB and ZSB are operated while an order is keyed up by the operator on the keys K0 to K9.

The number of salesmen keys is not limited and depends solely on the number of salesmen employed at the shop.

The operators position contains furthermore a busy lamp BL which gives an indication to the operator when he can continue with the keying up of another item and when he has to wait until the circuits are free for the next selection.

As a selection of articles itself is not part of the present invention the selecting relay group SRG is only schematically indicated. Only those relays are shown which are necessary to give a clear understanding of the operation of the recording arrangements. A selecting relay group,

respectively 4 which can be used in this connection, is, for example, described in my co-pending application Serial No. 110,149 filed August 13, 1949, for Improvements in Selection Circuit.

Whenever an article is to be selected the digits corresponding to its code number are keyed up by pressing the corresponding keys and circuits are established from earth via contact f2, contact ca2, one of the keys K0 to K9 to the selecting operates various relays over earth provided via contact'rl and finally operates one of the clutch relays ICE to 3CR over contact r2, relay 0 to battery. The number of CR. relays is solely dependent on the number of various kinds of articles which have to be stored and dispensed and has no relation to the number of keys used for the selection in case the selection of articles is performed by keying up the digits of their respective stock numbers.

When operated the clutch relays ICR to 30R can lock themselves up over their contacts lcrl to 3crl and their corresponding trip contacts ITC to3TC. The CR relays at the same time operate their other contacts for example lcr2, I013, I074 of relay [CR or the corresponding contacts of the other CR relays to put earth on to a pricing frame PFR to mark the price of a selected lease relay R which removes earth from the selecting' relay group SRG at contact TI and while operating keeps the busy lamp BL alight via its contact r4. The release itself is initiated by the discharge of an article from its corresponding bin and the temporary interruption of the trip lever contact TC by the selected article, which releases the CR relay and the C relay thus closing the circuit for relay R over the contacts 03 and 0113.

The pricing frame PFR which is shown in Fig. 1 only schematically consists of a number of vertical bars whereby for example one bar is provided for half-pennies, eleven bars for the values from one to eleven pennies and five barsfor the values of one to five shillings. Horizontal bars passing over and insulated from the shilling bars, the penny bars and the half-penny bars respectively are provided for and connected with one of the three contacts for each clutch relay CR as indicated in Fig. 1 by the bars I, 2 and 3 connected with the contacts [07"4, lcr3, lcr2 or relay ICR and the bars 4, 5 and 6 connected with the contacts 2cr4, 2e13, 2cr2 respectively of the clutch relay 20R. To mark a price of an article on the pricing frame an electrical connection is made between the bars I, 2 and 3 and oneof the vertical price bars passing underneath them. In the same way the price for the second article is marked by a connection between the price bars and the horizontal bars 4, 5 and 5 as for example described in full detail in Owen-McGibbon-Law application Serial No. 89,878 filed April 2'7, 1949, for Pricing Frame for Article Dispensing Systems.

The price bars of the pricing frame PFR corresponding with the various denominations are connected via the leads 7, 8, 9, Ill, II and -l2 with the relay contacts of the price storage "gm-.155 shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Three price storage. groups for pennies and shillings are shown in the example given, but any other number. of storage groups can be provided if necessary. The penny storage groups cooperate with the penny counting switches shown in Fig. '4 and the shilling storage groups cooperate with the. shilling countingswitches shown in Fig. 5 thus enabling a quicker selection of articles, as price indicationsare stored in the storage groups and subsequently transferred to i .IPX, zPx, Hex, IPY, 2PY, IIPY and IPZ, 2P2, IIPZ and the shilling storage groups comprise therelays ISX, 58X, 16?, 5.35! and lSZ, ssz. Contacts IpmZ to IIprZ, Im Z to Mpg/2 and lpe2 tol lpeZ (Fig. 4) mark a position on the, penny .oountingswitches with the banks IPCI, IP02,

IP03; 2P0l, 2PC2, 2PC3 and 3PCI, 3PC 2, 3PC3 respectively. Accordingly contacts ism! to 58.272,

position on the shilling counting switches with the banks ISCI, ISCZ, ISC3; ZSCI, 28(22, 2SC3 and 33C I 3SC2, 3SC3 respectively,

The selection of a particular price storage group to be counted is performed by the relays IPS, ZPS and 3P3 respectively for the penny storage groups and by the relays ISS; 258 or 3S8 for the shilling storage groups.

When a contact is marked on the bank of a counting switch by a penny or shilling relay as mentioned before, the corresponding switch is stepped up until the wiper reaches. the marked contact and at the same time-adding switches PA for pennies and SA for shillings (Fig. 6) are stepped up in accordance with the amounts counted on the counting switches.

As soon as the counting switch has'reached th marked position and hasstepped up" the corresponding adding switch, it returnstorits initial position, ready to be stepped up again by afollowing price .marking. The adding switch however remains in its set position tobemoved further when the next price marking is received, thus adding up the prices of successive articles. As Will be described in detail later on these added up prices can be indicated on a lamp indicator to show progressively the added up value of one order. It maybe mentioned here that an indication of the price ofthelast item can be provided if necessary. The lamp indicators can be provided with 0" lamps, which light up whenever no value of the corresponding denomination i to i be recorded.

.When the wiper of the penny adding switch PA (Fig. 6). reaches a contact corresponding to twelve pence, it continues to add up the prices,but stores the shilling amount in a relay CC which steps up the shilling adding switch SA as soon as this switch has finished counting the shilling amount marking to light up the halfpenny lamplm (Fig. 7) over contact [71.113 (Fig. 3).; -When the next half -penny,is priced in the same order, this marking operates. over. the .contactjhpl. :(Fig. 2) the relays 2H and 2H]? which energise the ,relays IHC and ,ZHC (Fig.3) to store thepenny-amount until the pennies marked at the same time have been counted by the penny countingswitches- While the addingswitchesare put back to their home position, when an order iscompleted. obe ready for the adding. up of the price'sof the .following order, the added up. price ofU-anqorder is transferred to atotalling device-(Figs? and 8'): This totalling devicecconsists of .the switcheszPU for pennies, SU .for shillings aIldLUforpounds and the-message registersGP, GS,-.GR respec: tively for the various. denominations. Additionally provision ismadeto addup the half-pennies inqamessage register GH. r i it; 1 Besides the message registers which recordthe total sales over acertain-time period separate message registers (IVH, 2VH, LIVP, ZVP, IVSJVS, IVR, ZVR) (Fig. 8) are provided to givea recor of the sales of each individual salesman. Before the operation ofgthe circuits is described in detail in connection with a specific example a general description of the functions of theprin cipal relay and switchcircuits is given hereafter. As mentioned before the prices marked. by 8D.

plying earth to the pricingframe arestoredin ,One of these switches, each of whichhas three contact banks (IPCl, IP02, IP03... starts hunting for a marked terminal as soon as a start impulse is received fromone of the pennystart relays IPS (Fig. 3) withcontacts lpsl to lp-sfi; 2Pswithcontacts 2108! to Zpso or 3PS with contacts .3psl to Spsfi depending on the penny storage relay-group whichhas stored the price'to be counted. -'Whi1e 0ne of these relays is operated, the circuits for the. other relays are interrupted, for example if relay ZPS .is operated it breaks at its .contacts 21282 and 2ps3 the circuits for the relays UPS and BPS respectively: l

The operated penny counting switch steps up the penny adding switch PA (Fig. 6) with the four contact banks PAI, PA2, PA3 and PAH corresponding with the amount of pennies to (be frecorded: Relays IPN, 2PN and:3PN'(Fig.'4) connected with the penny counting. switches: and operating their contacts lpnl to lzm l, 22ml .to 2pn4 and 31ml to 3pn4 respectively ascertain that thecounting :and adding'switches remain in'step,-as theywill operate only: by combined operation of the magnets-of boththe switches. An auxiliary relay PM (Fig. 5)lwith.contacts pm! to pme isconnected, with the interrupter contact springs pam of the magnet PAM". of thepenny adding. switch and controls the operation 'ofthis magnet.

.As, soon as thepennyacounting andthe' penny adding .switch have reached their. position, correspondingto the marked penny amount, :the counting-switch is stepped-back to its initial'posltion under the influence of the corresponding tion with its wiper on contact I a penny re-set pilot-relay lRP,-2RP or 3R? operates its contacts in"; H722; 221ml, 21122 or 3rpl, 31rp2 to re-set all the pennyrelays'associated with its particular group V "The bank PA2'of the penny adding switch PA (Fig. 6) is wired to the penny indicating lamps PL to indicate at any time the penny amounts added up at the adding switch.

A the penny storage relays IPX IPY IPZ .(Fig'. 2) are operated as soon as one of the clutch relays CR (Fig. 1) is energised, additional penny pilot relays XP, YP, ZP (Fig. 2) with contacts apl to mp5, ypl to ypfi, zpl to 2116 respectively are provided for each relay storage group. As long as earth is applied to the pricing frame by'the contacts of a CR relay the appropriate pilot relay is short-circuited, but as soon as the relay CR releases when a .selected article is released from its bin and operates its trip contact TC, the penny pilot relay of the respective storag'egroup is energised in series with the penny storage relay energised before and operates one of the penny change-over relays IP, 2P or 3P (Fig. 2) which in turn over contacts pl to 1124 changes the pricing leads I to 9 over to the next group of penny storage relays. A similar arrangement as described above for the penny marking is provided for the shilling counting and adding.

' The shilling storage relays ISX to ESX (Fig. 2) with-contacts lswl to 530:2, ISY to SY with contacts lsy'l to 5817/2 and ISZ to 5SZ with contacts lszl to 5822 mark the correspondin shilling counting switches [80, 2S0, 380 (Fig. 5). Although: only storage relays for values up to five shillings are'described in the example it must 'beunderstood that further relays can be added when the prices over 5/- for one single article have to be recorded.

One of the shilling start relays ISS, ZSS or 3SS (Fig. 3) with the six contacts lssl to Iss6, Zssl to 2ss6, 38st to 3ss6 operates one of the shilling counting switches as described for the penny counting and thus the shilling adding switch SA (Fig- 6) with the four banks SAI, SAZ, SA3 and SA4 is stepped up to indicate the added up amount on the shillinglamp indicator SL connected with contacts of the bank SAZ. To keep the counting and the adding switch in step relays ISN, ZSN and 3SN (Fig. 6) with their four contacts each are connected with the counting switches, and an auxiliary relay SM (Fig. 6) (contacts sml to sm'l) connected with the interrupter contact springs sam of the magnet SAM for the shilling adding switch SA control this magnet.

The shilling counting switches (Fig, 5) are stepped home under the control of the shilling resetting relays ISR, ZSR or 38R each having threecontacts and then one of the shilling re-set pilot relays IRS, 2RS or 3R8 is operated to restore over. its two contacts all shilling relays of the corresponding group to normal. Shilling .pilot relays XS, YS and ZS (Fig. 2) connected with the shilling storage relays of the three storage groups operate their respective contacts .rsl

to'ms6,.ys'| to 1/86 or as! to cs6 as soon as a selected article has been released from its corresponding bin and thus operate one of the shilling change-over relays IS, 2S or 38 to connect over their respective contacts sl to $6 the next storage group with the leads Ill, II leading to the pricing frame PFR (Fig.1)

' When the penny adding switch PA (Fig. 6) has 8 reached a position corresponding to twelve pennies the shilling adding switch SA must be stepped up one step. For this purposea coupling circuit relay CC with contacts cal to coli is connected with the penny adding switch PA. In case the shilling adding switch is still operating the relay CC stores'the shillin indication until the shilling adding switch has finished counting.

To transfer the shilling indication stored in relay CC to the shilling adding switch SA a coupling circuit pilot relay BC with contacts bcl and D02 is operated ov'er contact ccl when the three shilling start relays ISS, 2SS,'3SS (Fig. 3) are unoperated and thus the contacts Iss6,2ss5 and 3ss6 (Fig.6) are closed. g

As soon as the shilling adding switch SA has made one step corresponding to the twelve pennies marked on the penny adding switch anauxiliary coupling relay AC with contacts a'c'l and (102 is energised which interrupts at contact dcl the circuit for the CC relay so that this relay cannot operate again even if thepenny adding switch is still on the contact corresponding to twelve pennies (contact l3 of the contactbank). The penny adding switch PA remains on this contact as 1011;; as no further pennies are added up, while the relay CC is de-energised and the relay AC operated.

To enable an adding of prices exceeding twenty shillings, a pound adding switch LA (Fig, 6) with the contact banks LAI, LAZ and LA3 is operated whenever the shilling adding switch SA reaches its contact 2| corresponding to the added up amount of twenty shillings. A shilling coupling circuit relay SC is energised over this contact 2| of the bank SAI, operates its contacts sci to $03 and over its contact 803 operates the stepping magnet LAM of the pound adding switch LA. To control this operation an auxiliary relay M is operated over the interrupter contact springs lam of the magnet LAM and controls overs its contact m the circuit for the second winding of relay SC. Relay SC also initiates the return of shilling addin switch SA to its home position after the pound adding switch LA has been stepped up.

The indication of the pound amounts is carried out by the lamps of a lamp indicator LL wired to the bank LAI of the pound adding switch LA. The circuits for the counting and adding of half-pennies are much simpler as no switches are required for this purpose.

As mentioned before a first half-penny relay IH (Fig. 2) and a corresponding pilot relay [HP with their contacts lh and l hpl to mp4 are'operated over lead [2 from pricing frame PFR (Fig. 1) and indicate one half-penny on the lamp indicator HL (Fig. 7), the first lamp of this indicator being used to indicate when the added prices contain no half-penny amount. The next half-penny amount transferred from the pricing frame then operates the relays 2H and 2H (Fig. 2) with contacts Zhl, 2h2 and Zhpl to 271.114 which over the half-penny coupling relays (Fig. 3) [HO (contacts lhcl to Ihcfi) or ZHC' (contacts Zhcl to 27106) transfer the full penny amount to the penny adding switch PA (Fig. 6), when this switch is not any more operated by one of the penny counting switches. The transfer .ofthis penny indication is controlled by the half-penny coupling pilot relays IHD and ZHD (Fig. 3) with their respective four contacts hdl to hdd which operate over their contacts M1114 and 2711 (Fig. 6) respectively the magnet PAM of the penny adding switch.

The change-over from relay IHC to. relay 2H0 (Fig. 1. e. from one half-penny. storage group to another a is performed by the half-penny change-over relay HO (Fig. 2) operating its contacts hcl to 71.06. An auxiliary relay HA (Fig. 3) operated depending on the relays IHC or ZHC and relay HO frees the relay 2H and ZHP (Fig. 2) by opening its contact ha, so that these relays are ready to count another half -penny.

"The relay and switch circuits mentioned above are related to the various denominations to be counted and added. Further circuit arrangements however have to be provided to enable a reliable working of the system. It might happen that all the price storage relay groups are occupied and in this case a pricing store relay PF (Fig. 3) is operated over the series contacts :vsl to ass!) for the shilling storage, mp4 to :226 for the penny storage and M03, Ihc3 and. 271404 for the half-penny storage. The relay PF operates over itscontact pf the relay F (Fig 1) which in turn lights the busy lamp BL overcontact ,fl and removes earth from the keyboard at contact f2.

- In case a price marking shall be cancelled because no' article was available in the bin or for any other reasons a release relay RR (Fig. 3) is energised whenever the cancel key CK (Fig, 1) i operated. This relay opens its contacts Tr! to m-8{ and thus prevents any of the relay XP, Y P, ZP, XS,YS and Z6,- Whichhad not been operated before, from being energised and interrupts the circuits for the halfpenny storage relays. i a

When an order has been completed and the adding switche's hav'e been steppedup in accordance with the total value of this order, this value is then transferred to the totalling device-which will be described in detail later on in connection with Fi s. 7 and 8. To re-set the adding switches for the next incoming order'a total finish relay TF (Fig. 3) lsoperated via relays of the totalling device, removes earth from the wipers of the switchesat its'contacts tfl, U3, and re-sets over its contacts U2, U4 and U5 (Fig.- 6) the adding switches PA, SA and LA by operating the various magnets over the contact banks PAL SAl'and LA3 respectively; at contact tfB earth is removed fromthe half-penny storage group. As soon as the adding switches have reached their home position the relays PT, sT and RT -(Fig. 6) are temporarily energisedtoopen theholding circuit forthe relay 60 (Fig. 8-) at the contacts pt, st, rt (Fig. 3), this relay 00 having been energised before by the operation .of the order complete keyOK to operate its contacts cal .to 005.

To safeguard against a double marking of prices when an article is released from its bin and earth is still on the pricing frame a clutch pilot relayCP (Fig. 3) is operated from-the clutch controllrelay .C (Fig. 1). The-relay CP controls over its contact cpl earth applied tothe various bars of the pricing frame and furthermore closes over its contacts cpl to 01 6 (Fig. 2) holding circuits for the various-changeeover relays lP to 3}? and IS. to 35, so that these relays cannot change over tothe next storage groups until relay CP hasireleased and has removed earth from the pricing frame-thus prohibiting a. double price marking intwo successive relay storage groups.

The operation of the varioustcircuits will now be described in more detail by following a specific price indication. It may be assumedthat an article priced at eleven pence has been keyedupbyoperating one of the CR relays (Fig. 1) aiid'the C relay in series 10 therewith. Relay CA isoperated over contact cl and overcontactcZ and lead I! relay CP (Fig. 3) is energised to put earth via contact cpl, lead [6 andone of the contacts lcr3, 2cr3. (Fig. 1*) onto thexpricing frame PFR andthus to the lid bar and the leadQ connected with contact: I113 (Fig. 2), to operaterelay I IPX.. (Dvercontact Hpatla new circuit is'prepared forrelay llPX via contact rrl, relay XP, contact Mp2 to earth, but-.relay XP cannot operate as it is short-cincuited-by earth from the pricing frame. At the same time ainarking isprepared at the twelfth contact of the contact bank IPCZ (Fig. 4) by the contact llprz. When the selected article is released from its binandhas temporarily opened its corresponding trip contact TC as mentioned before, the CR relay of this bin and relay C are releasedand thus earth is removed from the pricing-frame and lead 9, so that relay XP can now operate in series with relay HPX. ContactwpIi shunts Contact 177! of relay RP.) so that contact T11 is inoperative in case relay RR is operated via the cancelkey CK (Fig.1). The relays I PS (Fig. 3) isIlOW energised from earth over the contacts 2110B, Ihcfi, e05. B'rpl, Zrpl, lrpl, operated contact mp6, contacts 2ps2, 3 0.92, relay IP S w battery. Relay IPS closesa'holding circuit from battery over its second winding, contacts [psi and sp l -to earth. a j i Over contact lps' l (Fig. 4) a circuit is closed. for -;relay IPN frombattery, relay IPN; ;contact I 19112; interrupter li cmf-contact 1m; closedcontact pm-I-(as relay PM (Fig. 6) is normally op erated over interrupter gram and contact-U2), wiper andcon'tact -I of switch bank |PCl, closed contact lpsfl, lead ZBQcontact ac2 (Fig. '6) contact I and wiper of s'witch bank PAL contact tfl to earth. "Relay LPN (Fig; 4) closest-its contact lpni and thus forms alockingcircuit over its second winding, contact lpnl, closed contact pmfi to earth; 3 A'further locking circuit is closed from earth over contact ems, contact lpr3, interrupter lpcm, contact Ip'rZ, relay lPN'to battery. Over thecontact [p122 thefswitch magnet IPC-Mand over the contact! 11m (Fig. 6) the switch magnet PAM are energised tostep up the penny counting switch lPCan'd the penny adding switch The circuit is so arranged that both switches must make an equal number of steps before relay lPN' can release again. Whenmagnet IPCM operates it interrupts the circuit for one wind ing, of. relay lPNa t interrupter lpcm and when magnet PAM operates it interrupts the circuit for relayPM at: interrupter pain, whicliin turn interrupts the second locking circuit for relay {RN at contact pmfi. As soon as bothswitches have stepped up one step and relay IPN hasbeen released, this' relay is energised again asthe circuit runs now, from contact lps4 (Fig. 41) over contact 111x132; second contact of switch bank 11C! and thenthe same way as described above. Thus the-switches IFC and PA'are stepped up together. Theiswitches are so arranged that the interrupter contacts for their magnets are only closed after the switches haveymade their re quired steps. 7 1

As soon .as the switches-1P6 and *PA a-re stepped up eleven steps corresponding to the price'oii 11d the operating circuit for relay "LPN islinterruptedat contact bank IP CI as contact 1 IprZ is operated. At the same time a new c1r-;' cuit is closed from earth via contact tf l (Fig. 6) wiper and twelfth contact of switch bank PAL contact a,c2, lead 26, contact IP84 (Fig; 4), tan: tact l'lpati, twelfth contact and wipe! of switch 11 bank IP02, relay IPR to battery. This relay closes a. locking circuit over the contacts lprl and H935 to earth. While the magnet PAM of the, adding. switch remains unoperated, the magnet l-PCM of the counting switch i now stepped up'from earth via the. switch bank and wiper IPC3, operated contact lpr3, interrupter lpcm, operatedcontact I m2, magnet IPCM to battery.

When the counting switch lPC (Fig. 4) reaches its home position or its equivalent with wipers resting on the first or the thirteenth contact of the switch-banks, relay IRP is energised fro-m earth over contacts [p35, prl, wiper and contact of switch bank IPC2, relay IRP to battery. Atcontact irpZ (Fig. 2) the locking circuit for the. relays XP and IIPX is interrupted'so that these relays release. Relay XP opens the locking circuit for relay IPS (Fig. 3) at contact 32102. The release of relay IPS performs the release of relays IPR and IRP (Fig. 4) at contact Ips5. Relay XPvis a slow-release relay to ensure that relay-llPXhas released and opened its contacts 1 Ipsclbefore relay IRP releases, to prevent the relay-PX from coming up again over contact 1mm,

The price is now indicated at the penny lamp indicator PL (Fig. 6) from battery over the lamp corresponding to 11d and connected with the twelfth contact of switch bank PAZ over the wiper, lead 21, lead 25, contact OS (Fig. 3), contacts .'cp 3, yp3, zp3,:cs3 ,ys3, 2s3, lhcB, 2hc6 to earth-.. The series of break contacts of the various group relays prohibits a lighting up of the indicator lamps while the adding is still in progress and the ,wiper passes over the contacts of its bank. The contact OS is part of an order start key and is closed until one order has been completed. Thus the lamp indicators are extinguished after an i. order has been fulfilled and remain dark until the next order is started. This contact is shown within dotted lines to indicate that it is not essential for the working of the arrangement. Relay XP (Fig. 2) which was operated in series withrelay IIPX, also energises over its contact rpl "the change-over relay IP. Over the contacts lpl, lpZ and I113 the various leads 1, 8, 9 from the pricing frame are changed over to the second grouppf penny storage relays IPY to IIPY via theieontacts Zpl to. 2123. Although only three relays are shown in each storage group it must beunderstood that eleven relays and the corresponding contacts on the relays 1P, 2P and 3P are-provided to enable a price storage upto 11d. ;-To prevent a release of relay IP when the adding of. the first price is finished while a; second priceis about to be stored in the second group, adocking circuit is provided for relay IP over its own contact- I104 and contact cpl of relay CF toearth. Relay CP (Fig. 3) is always operated when anarticle has been selected but has not yet beendischarged from its bin. This locking circuit prevents a price marking which is'to be stored in the second group to set up an additional marking in thefirst group. This locking of relay [Rhowever does not efiect the counting and adding of a price stored in the third storage relay group (relays IPZ to I IPZ).

soon as earth is removed again from the pricing frame PFR (Fig. 1) when the second article, priced for example with 2d, has left its bin, relay YP (Fig. 2) comes up in series with relay ZPY in the same manner as described for relay XP and prepares over its contact yp6 (Fig. 3) a circuit for relay 2PS. At the same time a contact corresponding to 2d is marked on the second contact bank 2PC2 (Fig. 4) of the second penny counting switch by the change-over contact 2 2.

While the adding of the first price is still in progressrelay Z PS (Fig; 3) cannot operate as its circuit is still interrupted at contact mp6, but as soon as the relays XP (Fig. 2) and [RP (Fig. 4) release (see above) relay ZPS operates from earth via contacts 27108, limit, 005, 31701, Z'rpl, lrpi, mp6, operated contact 1/106, contacts ips2, 37183, relay ZPS to battery. At the contacts 210.92 and 220.93. the'energising circuits for the relays IPS and 3P8 respectively are interrupted so that these relays cannot operate while the counting and adding of the second storage group is still in progress. Relay ZPS operates in the same manner as described above for the relay IPS, but is connected witht he second counting switch 2P0 (Fig. 4) so that now relay 2PN is operated and the stepping up of the switches proceeds over contact 2ps4 and lead 26 to the penny adding switch PA (Fig. 6). Thus the penny adding switch is stepped up further together with the second penny counting switch 2PC.

When the penny adding switch PA (Fig. 6) reaches its thirteenth contact corresponding to twelve pennies, the shilling adding switch SA has to be stepped up one step. This is done in the following manner:

At the thirteenth contact of bank PAI (Fig. 6) the circuit for the relay 2PN (Fig. 4) is interrupted and a new circuit-is closed for relay CC (Fig. 6) from earth over contact t l, wiper and thirteenth contact of PA], contact acl, relay CC to earth. Over contact 006 a locking circuit is closed over the second windingofrelay CC and the normally closed contact sm'l of relay SM in parallel with contact 1102 to earth. Over contact 002 the circuit for relay 2PN (Fig. 4) is re-established again, so that the rest of the storedpennies (in this example Id) can be added upatswitch PA. At the contacts 005 and sad (Fig. 3) the circuits for the penny start relays [PS and 3P8 and the shilling start relays ISS to .3SS respectively are interrupted to prohibit the adding of additional pennies of other storage groups or the adding of shillings until the shilling adding switch SA (Fig. 6) has made its step to mark the twelve pennies set up at the penny counting switch PA.

Over contact ccl (Fig. 6) of relay CC the BC relay is energised from battery over relay BC, contacts ccl, Iss6, Zss'd, 3886 to earth. The three latter break contacts prohibit an operation of relay BC while counting of shillings is still in progress and one of the shilling start relays ISS, 28S or 388 (Fig. 3) is operated. The relay BC energises the magnet SAM of the shilling adding switch SA over contact bcl and interrupts the circuit for one winding of the CC relay at contact 2:02 at the same time energising relay AC. Relay CC however is still kept up over contact sm'l. Magnet SAM interrupts temporarily the circuit for relay SM at interrupter Sam. Thus contact sml opens and releases relay CC, which in turn releases relay BC. The opening of contact bcl f'deenergises the magnet SAM which thus steps the switch SA up one step to add a shilling. As the contacts cod and 005 (Fig. 3) are closed again, further shillings and pennies can be added. At contact bc2' (Fig. 6) the circuit of relay AC is interrupted again. The function of this relay is to prevent the CC relay from coming upagain in case the PA switch has finished adding on the thirteenth contact. Relay AC is then kept energised from-earth via contact til,

adding the circuit for one of the'PN relays (Fig.

4) is established overthecontact (102, until the wiper of PAI leaves the thirteenth. contact and.

releases'relay AC so that the whole circuit returns back to normal. l

The storage, counting and adding of the shilling amounts, set upon the pricing frame PFR. (Fig. 1) and transmitted to the storage relays ISX to 58X, ISY to SY and lSZ to 5-SZ .over the leads ll and I2 proceeds in the same manner as described above for the pennies. The relays and switches have the same marking except that the letter P is replaced by the letter SJ- When for example 5/ are marked on the pricing frame, relay ESX (Fig. 2) is energised and as soon as earth is removed from lead l2 (when the article has left its bin) relay XS operates and energises the starting relay I SS (Fig. 3) from earth via contacts cod, 3rsl, Zrsl, lrs' l, operated contact cs6, contacts 2ss2, 3ss2, relay ISS' to earth. Contact I cs4 (Fig. 5) closes the circuit for the relay ISN which now operates over switch banks I S CI andSAl (Fig. 6) in the same way teenth or nineteenth contact of the contact bank) relay IRS is operated over wiper and switch bank [802 and the circuits are restored to normal as described above for the penny counting." I I The indication of shilling amounts is carried out over "thewiper and contact bank -SA2 and the lamp indicated SL, the circuit passing through the came lead 21 and the same contacts as describedfor-the penny lamps PL. I

I Provision is made to give an indication of pound amounts as soon as the shilling adding switch SA (Fig. 6) has reached a position corresponding to twenty shillings. In this case the wipers of switch SA rest on the twenty first contact of each bank and atbank SA! the circuit for one of the relays lSN; 'ZSN or 3SN (Fig. 5) which is just operating the adding switch SA is interrupted. The relay SQ (Fig. 6) I is energised from e'arthovercontact U3; wiper and contact bank SAL normally closed contact sm5, relay SC to battery. This relay closes a locking circuit for its secondwinding over the normally'closed contactm and contact scl. Over contacts so? and $03 the magnets SAM and LAM respectively are energised and open their interrupter contacts 5am and lam. Thus the relays SM and M are deenergisedopen their contactssmi and m thus interrupting the circuits of the two windings of relay SC. Relay SC releases when both-magnets are thus energised and breaks the circuits for the magnets SAM and M at the contacts 802 and s03. I The magnets when releasing step the shilling addingsw'itchSA and the pound adding switch LA up one step and the pound amount isindi'cated on the indicator lamps LLvia the wiper and contact bank LA! in the same way as mentioned before for thepenny and shilling indicators PL and SL. I

The shilling adding switchis now on its twenty I4 7 second contact and a circuit is madeirom earth over contact U3, wiper and contact bank: SM. contact sml, magnet SAM to battery. By mm. mittent operation of relay SM and magnet switch SA returns back to its initial position, so that it is ready again to add up furthershilline amounts. The penny relay groups. and the shilling.

relay groups are independent of each othensb that when a price containing only shillings no pennies is to be counted, no relays of the penny. groups are operated and vice versa exceptwhen twelve pennies are reached at the penny adding.

switch, which are then transferred to the shil mz adding switch. n

The arrangement for the counting and addin of half-pennies is different from the arrange: ments described above for pennies and shillilig and will be described now: when earthiis applied to the /;d bar'of the pricing frame PFR; (Fig. 1')

and thus to lead l2, the relay lI-I (Fig; 2) is apexgised over contact mp4 and closes its contact-1k thus providing a new circuit from battery Over relay- IH, relay IHP, contact 1h, contact 1M,- contact m 2, contact tjB to earth, thus also energlsing relay IHP as" soon as earthuover lead 112 48; removed at the pricing frame. Relay IHP closes its contact [hm parallel to contact rrls By operating contact mm (Fig. 3) "the 1" half-penny lamp inthe lamp indicator HL (Fig. 7-) lights up over leads :9, 24 (Fig. '8),\contact lhp3(Fig. a)-

hasoperated its trip contact-TC). At contact 2km the circuitforthe relays IH and lHP is interrupted so that theserelays release and are.

now ready for the next counting of an half+penny.

Over contact Zh'pl the contact "5 is bridged, so that an operation of relay RR has no affection the relays 2H and 2H? while theyare operated:

Overcontact mp3 (Fig. 3) 'a circuit is closed from earth via contact 2hp3, contact holr'relay I EC to battery, which energises relay IHC. relay closes a locking circuitfor itself over-con tacts lhd3 and lhcl. .Over operated contact M02 and contact ho3 the HA relay is energised interrupting at contactha (Fig. 2) the circuitfcr the relays 2H and'ZHP. Thus'onepennymalrkln'g is stored in relay IHC.

At the released contact 2112- (Fig. 2) earthils put on to the relay 'HO viacontact the! andthls relay locks itself from earth over contact H8.

contact 2M5, contact hol, relay HO to battery.

Relay HO changes over its contact 71.02 (Fig.3) to prepare a circuit for relay 2H0, when penny has to be stored for adding.

' At the contact H106 and '2hc6 the circuit for energising'the relays IPS, ZPS or IPS ls inter rupted so that the stored penny markings cambe transmitted to the -adding switch PA. as soon as the penny markings stored before and trans mitted' via the relays IPS,2PS, IPS are added up. When these relays are in the unoperated position a circuit is closedfrom earth via the normally operated contact pmS, contacts 11286, Zpsfi; 3ps6, operated contact lhcljcontact flhdi, relay IHD tobattery. This relay-locks itselrove'r its own contact 'lhdl and contact pmi to-earth,

another access;

15 releasesrelay IHC atcon'tact mas, and contact lhdd (:Fig. 6) energises the switch-magnet PAM which at interrupter pam interrupts .the circuit forrelay PM so that at contact pm (Fig. 3) the circuit for relay IHD is. interrupted. Relay IHD releases magnet PAM which thus steps the penny,

adding switch PA up one step to countthe penny stored-in relay lHC.. The next penny stored in relay '2HC'is added in the same way via the relay ZI-ID (Fig; 3) which. is now energised from earth via contact m5, contacts lpsfi, 21236, 31086, contact lhcl, operated contact2hc4, contact lhdZ, relayJ-HD to-battery. The operation of .the penny adding switch proceeds in the same manner as described before, as contact zhd l (Fig. 6) operates parallel to contact lhd4'.--

'-..Whi'le' thehalf-penny markings are stored and the relay contacts 2hp4, vIhcf, and 2hc3 (Fig. 3) are closed relay PF will operate and energise over contact pf 'andleadfi relayF (Fig. l) which over contact -f2 removes .earth' from the keyboard (Kll to K9), and lights up the busy'lamp. BL over-contactffl, toprohibit a further keying up of articles-until the penny markings are transferr ed .to the penny adding switch PA and at least one of 'therelays ZHP, lHCor ZHC has-released. The same control is'performed by the PF relay (-Fig. 3-) when all the penny storage groups are fullanduthe relay XP, YP and ZP- (Fig. 2) are energisedand close a circuit for relay PF (Fig. 3)

over thecontacts mp4, 1 104 and 2114. A similar circuit over contacts a2s4, ys l and cs4 indicates thatial-l-shilling storagegroups are full.

Ifpfore example, an, article keyed up on the keyboard is out of stock, the .busy-lamp BL re-, mains alight over contact ca l and then the cancel key- CK. :(Fig. 1) is operated which thus temporarily energises over lead ['8 slow release relay.

RR-=(Fig.' 3) Over one of its contacts rrl to 7'78 (Fig.2) the; circuit for the relay storage group, which was just operated, is interrupted, but as the'contacts are by-passed as soon as an article has been-:releasedirom a bin, all the relays set up by preceding selections remain unaffected.

= When all the articles belonging to one order have-been keyed up and released'from their respective bins, the operator presses temporarily the order complete key OK (Fig. 1) and thus energises over lead lithe relay 00' (Fig. 8) which in turncloses a locking circuit over. its seeondwin'ding, contactoc l, lead l9. and the parallel connected contacts pt,; st and rt',(Fig. 3). The contacts'ocl, 002', 003 (Fig.8) and 005 (Fig. 7:)"operatethe totalling device (Figs. {7 and 8) whichwillbe described later on in detail. Thistotalling device transfers the indications ofthe price'tadding switches .PA,. SA and LA ,(Fig. 6) and anyhalf-ipenny indication to the corresponding message registers, GH, GP, GS and GR (Figr-B-L- y: 1

JzWhen this transfer is completed the contacts tn3 kp, ks and kr-T (Fig. 8) are closed-and over lead 20 the relayTF (Fig. 3) -is energised.- This relay opens its contacts til, 1513 (Fig; 6) and U6 (Fig. 2) and changes over-its contacts-U2, U4

and tf5.(Fig. ,6) to close a circuit for the magnets PM, SM and -M over the wipers and contact-banks PA4:, 8A4 and LAB respectively -As the interrupter contacts of'the'magnetsare included in these circuits; the three addingswitches are stepped back to their home position; As soon as- 16 relay. 00. (Fig. 8). Thus relay 0C is only released when all three switchesgare, returned to their initial positions.

The release of relay 0C initiates the release of relay as willqbe seen later, and when the contactstfZ, U4 and H5 have changed backagain and relay PT, ST and RT are de-energised again and all the circuits are now ready to take the price indication for another order.

As mentioned before a totalling device (Figs. 7 and 8), is provided to give an account about all the sales made over a certain time period. For this purpose each of the adding switches PA, SA and LA (Fig. 6) has a contact bank PA3, SA3 and LA2 respectively, which is connected via the cables 30, 3| and 32 with a corresponding contact bank PUI (Fig. 7) of the penny totalling switch PU. contact bank SUI of the shilling t0- talling switch SU and contact bank LUl of the pound totalling switch LU.

. When an order is completed and the operator has pressed the order complete key OK (Fig. 1) ,as mentioned before, the totalling switches PU, -SU and LU hunt for the marked contacts on the contact banks of the adding switches PA, SA and LA and at the same time step up their respective message registers GP, GS and GL (Fig. 8), the message register GH for half-pennies being stepped up separately. When the amounts are transferred from the adding switches to the message register, the totalling switches return to their home position and all the adding switches and corresponding relays are restored to normal ready for the next order.

The function of the various circuits in the totalling device will be described hereafter in detail. As mentioned before, when an order has been completed the operator has pressed the order complete key OK (Fig. 1) and has operated over lead lithe relay OC (Fig. 8) which closes its contacts ocl to 005 and over contact 005 (Fig. 7) energises the relays FP, FS and FR. If, for example, the penny totalling sw itch PA (Fig. 6) shows an amount often pennies and its wipers thus rest on the eleventhicontact of each corresponding contact bank, earth is connected via contact tfl to the wiper and contact eleven onathe contact bank PA3 and from there via one lead-in cable 30 to the eleventh contact on the contact bank PUI (Fig. '7) of the penny totalling switch PU. I

When the relay FP (Fig. 7) has closed. its contactsfpl to fp3, a circuit is closed from earth via contacts mp2, mp2, tp l, th interrupter con: tact tpm, contact tp3, relay BP, closed contact I103, relay AP to battery, thus energising the relays BP and AP inseries. Over contact bpZ the two contacts up! and mp2 are by-passed and a locking circuit for relay BP is further provided from earth over contact mpl, closed contact bpl, a second winding of relay BP to bat tery. Over contact bp3 the magnet TPM of the switch PU is energised and over contact 17126 (Fig. 8) the message register GP is stepped up one step. At the same time one of the salesmen message registers (IVP or 2VP) is stepped up oved contact bp5 as will be described in detail later on. The message registers have contacts which are closed each time their magnets are energised and thuscontact gp and one of the salesmen register contacts lop or 222p are closed to energise the relays MP and NP respectively. When both relays are energised, indicating that the message registers are stepped up one step, the contacts mpl, npl, mp2 and m2 (Fig. '7)

17 are interrupted thus opening the locking circuit through one winding of relay BP, whilethe circuit through the other winding is broken at the interrupter contact 1pm, operated by magnet TPM. The relay BP will thus release. This circuit arrangement thus makes the operations of relay BP dependent on the operation of the message registers to ensure that the totalling switch cannot step up until the message registers have stepped up as well.

As soon as relay BP is released, the magnet TPM releases and steps th switch PU up one step. The whole cycle of operations repeats itself for further stepping up of the totalling switch PU and the message registers until the wipers reach the eleventh contact which is earthed on the contact bank PUI from the adding switch PA (Fig. 6) as mentioned before. Relay AP will now operate again, but relay BP cannot come up as it is-short circuited by the earth on the contact bank. As the contacts on the contact bank PU2 are connected in parallel to the contacts of contact bank PUI, earth on contact eleven closes a circuit over contact bank and wiper PU2, closed contact up, contact b104, relay TP to battery. This relay established a locking circuit for itself over the closed contacts i122 and tpl. At contact tp2 a new circuit is established for relay AP over contact m3, and at contact tp3 the circuit for relay BP is interrupted and a new circuit is closed for the TPM magnet from earth over contact bank and wiper PU3, contact i124, interrupter contact tpm, contact tp3, magnet TPM to battery, so that the switch PU'is now stepped back to its initial position where the circuit is interrupted at contact bank PU3.

When the wipers have reached the first contact again relay KP is energised from earth via the operated contact i172 and tpl, the contact 22224, the closed contact ap, wiper and first contact of contact bank PU2, relay KP to battery. This relay closes its contact lcp (Fig. 8) and when the indications of the other denominations are all transferred to the message registers, the contacts m3, ks and lcr are closed as well, so that relay TP (Fig. 3) is operated as already described and returns the adding switches to their home position thus releasing relay 00. At contact 005 the circuit for the relays FP, FS and FR; is interrupted and for example relay FP opens its contacts fp2 and i193 and breaks the circuits for the relays TP, KP and AP so that all the circuits for the penny totalling switch PU are reset to their initial position.

As relay KP is connected with the first contact of contact bank PU2 provision is made 'to prohibit this relay from operating when the corresponding adding switch (PA, Fig. 6) is in its initial position with earth at the first contact of contact bank PAS, before the order complete signal has been given. To achieve this purpose the contact fpl (Fig. '7), of relay FF is inserted in the connection between the contact banks PUI and PU2, closing the circuit for relay KP only after relay FP has been operated by the order complete relay C. In this case as no pennies were marked on the penny adding switch PA (Fig. no marking is transferred to the penny message registers.

The circuits and their functions described above for the totalling of penny amounts are identical with the circuits for totalling the shilling and pound amounts. In the sequence oi operationthe ,relayFS with contactsjsl to I83 18 and the relay BS with contacts bsl to bsi trans fer the markings of the shilling adding switch SA (Fig. 6) over the shilling totalling switch SU (Fig. 7) to the shilling message registers GS and IVS or 2VS (Fig. 8). Over their associated relays MS and NS with the contactsms], ms and nsl, ns2 (Fig. 7) the switch magnet TSM is stepped up over its interrupter contacttsm until a marked contact is reached. The relay AS with contact as and relay TS with the contacts tel to tsd then restore the switch to its home position in which the relay KS is energised which closes contact ks (Fig. 8) in the circuit of relay TF (Fig. 3) to prepare the release of all circuits. The corresponding relays for the transfer -01f pound indications from pound adding switch LA (Fig. 6) over the pound totalling switch LU (Fig. 7) to the pound message registers GR and IVR. or 2VR are the relays FR. with contacts 111 to )1'3 and BR. with contacts brl to brfi, there lays MR and NR (Fig. 8) associated the message registers and operating their contacts 'mfl, my! and ml, 'nrz (Fig. 7) respectively, thesw itch magnet TLM with its interrupter contacttlnz and the relay'TR with contacts trl to tr land KR. with contact kr (Fig. 8) in the circuit'oi relay TF (Fig. 3). J The totalling of half-pennies in thelhalf penny message registers. GE and lvntr" 2 VH (Fig. 8) isma'cledependent on thehalf-penny countingrelay lHP(Fig. 2). f Y In case no half-penny has to be'transfer'red to the message registers when the order is complete, the contact Ihp2 (Fig. 3) is in its unoperatedposition and when the order complete relay 0C operated a circuit is closed from earth-over'contact "1.102 (Fig. 3), lead 2|, contact 002 (Fig. 8), relay TN to battery. Relay TN operates'its contacts tnl, m2 and ms. Over contact tnl a looking circuit is closed from battery over a second winding of relay ITN, contact .tnl, contact 003 to earth. At contact an the circuit for relayTH is interrupted and at contact me thecircuit for the operation of the relay TF (Fig. 3) is prepared, which when operated releases finally relay 0C. The contacts 002 and 003 open and thus release the TN relay again.

When a half -penny has to be transferred to the message registers this is indicated by'the energising of relay IHP. When relay 06 has been operated a circuit is closed from earth via contact mm (Fig. 3) via lead 22, contact ocl, contact m2, relay TH to battery. Over contacts ml and thZ one of the salesmen message registers iVH or 2VH and the message register GH are stepped up one step at the same time closing their'con tacts l'uh or 2071. and gh and operating the corresponding relays NH and MH. As relay 'CS is operated whenever an amount has to be marked on a salesman register, relay TN is'energised as soon as both relays NH and MH have closed their respective contacts nh and mh. Relay TN closes a locking circuit. over itssecond winding. and contacts tnl andoc3 and interrupts atconta'ct m2 the circuit for relay TH which releases; Whenthe order complete relay OCreleases the relay TH is de-energised as mentioned before. j' To record the turn-over of various salesmen. individual salesmen keys SKI and SKZ (Fig. 1) are provided, which enable to record separately the sales made by two salesmen, but it must be understood that any number of salesmen keys can be provided. When no salesmen key is.- o'perated, the relays ISB and 28B (Fig. 1) and the common relay OS are in their unoperatedposition and the salesmen message registers are disconnected at the contacts lsbl to l-sb4 and 2sbl to ISM (Fig. 8). At the contacts csl to 053 earth is put onto the leads 35, 3! and 38which bypasses the contacts 11172, vest and m2 (Fig. '7) respectively-making the working of the totalling switches independent from the salesmen regis- -ter-IVP, 2VP,- IVS, ZVS and WE, 2VR, (Fig. 8). Earth at contact 054 by-passes contact nh to make relay'TN independent from any operation of the registers- IVH and ZVI-I. e

When, -for-example, the salesmen key 'SKZ (-Fig; I) has been operated, relays ZSB and CS (Fig-. 8) are operated and over the contacts 281)] to 28174 the salesmen message registers ZVH, -2YP,-2VS and ZVR are connected with the contacts thl,*bp5-, bs5 and br5 respectively which areclosed when the message registers are to be steppedup. V

' At the contacts csl, cs2 andcs3 earth is removed from the leads 35, 31 and 39 and switches over to the leads 34, 36 and 38 which connect with contacts npL nsl and ml in parallel to contacts mpl, ms! and mrl :to make the operation of the totalling'switches dependent on the stepping up of the various salesmen message registers. At contact cs4 earthis removedfrom contact mh so that relay TN is now dependent on the combined operation of contacts'nh and mh.

Instead of salesmen keys which are kept in position by the operator until the order is ,finished push buttons operating a relay can be provided, whereby this relay would look itself during the-keying up of an order and would be automatically released when the totalling unit has'completed its function and the sale is recorded in the message registers. Furthermore these push buttons can be connected over the salesmen relay with the order complete relay QC thus eliminating the order complete key OK. When an order' is completed the operator presses the appropriate salesman button and thus gives the order complete signal and simultaneously transfers the indications set up at the adding device to the totalling device and the message registers.

a The foregoing description shows the invention by way of example only. Instead of three storagerelay groups and counting switches for one denomination'more or less groups can be provided. If individual prices higher than five shillings have to be recorded additional relay circuits can easily be arranged. Although in the example shown the message registers indicate the various denominations as they are marked on the adding switches it can be arranged that a transfer takes place to the next higher denomination when the required amount in the lower denomination is reached. The arrangement is not restricted to the denominations described but can as well be adapted to any other denomination or the recording of any other value and/or classification assigned to each kind of article, as for example points of a rationing scale. It is possible to give two different indications for one kind of article at the same time, for example, the indication of the price and the ration points of an article. Two arrangements as described above are; provided which operate from the same clutch relay. Two pricing frames allow for independent adjustment of prices and ration points. @Further modifications can be made within the scope of the invention to care for the requirements of each individual case 1;. In combination witha selecting and releas ing mechanism for selecting anddiSpensing ar ticles of different character from 'storagepa system for indicating and registering th'e values'of dispensed articles comprising, 1 a plurality of countin devices, each counting device including switching means settable in accordance with said values and counting means connected therewith to count one by one the numberof units in any of said values in accordance lWlth the setting-of said switching means, said counting-devices being effective upon the operation- 6f the selecting mechanism to assume a'position corresponding to the value of the article selected, further switchin means for maintaining the operated counting devices their respective op'erated conditions and effective upon operation of one counting device by said selectingmechanism'to operatively connect the selecting mechanism to an unoperated counting device for operating said unoperated counting device in accordancawith the value of the'nextselected article, an adding device interconnected with said counting devices for adding up one aftertheother the values indicated oneach of the counting devices-in accordance with the respective positions thereof, and means for releasing the operated counting devices after the values indicated thereon have been added by said adding device. 7

2.'In combination with a selecting and releasing mechanism for selecting'and dispensin articles of. different character from storage, a system :for indicatingandregistering the values of..dispensed articles comprising, a plurality of counting de vices, each counting device including switching means settable in accordance with said values and counting means connected therewith to'count one by one the number of units'in any of said values in, accordance with the setting of said Switching means, said counting being'controlled by the selecting mechanism and settable thereby to diiferent positions corresponding tolthevalues of articles selected by the selecting mechanism, and an adding device interconnected with said plurality of counting devices for addingup one after the other the values indicated on the plurality of counting devices, said counting devices being adapted to maintaintheirlset positions until the values have been added by. said adding de vice and once set being again settable by said selecting mechanism only :after said Values have been added iby'said adding device. j

3. In combination with a selecting and releasing mechanism for selecting. and dispensing .articles of different characterfrom storage, a system for indicating and registeringthe values of dispensed articles comprising, an adding device for adding up one after the. othertheavalues of"a'rticles selected and dispensedby the selectingand. dise pensin mechanisms, a pluralityrof counting devices for interconnecting ,the selecting. mechanism and said adding device and adapted'tofibe moved to positions corresponding to the" values of articles selected, each" counting device including switching means settablein accordance-with said values, and: counting means connected :therewith to count one by one the number ,of units in any of said values in accordance with the-settinguo'f said switching means,;said counting:devices also operating to render said adding? device effective upon assumin moved positions correspondingto the values of articles selected, and meansreffective upon operation of acounting device-for connect- 21' 1 ing the other unoperated counting devices to said selecting mechanism in successive order.

4. In combination with a selecting and releasing mechanism for selecting and dispensing articles of different character from storage, a system for indicating and registering the values of dispensed articles comprising, a plurality of counting devices for each denomination occurring in the value of a single article to be selected, each counting device including switching means settable in accordance with said values and,

counting means connected therewith to count one by one the number of units in any of said values in accordance with the setting of said switching means, said counting device being controlled by the selecting mechanism to indicate the value of the article selected, an adding device controlled by said plurality of counting devices for adding up one after the other the denominational values indicated on each of said counting devices, means for retaining the counting devices in an operated condition and efiective upon operation of one counting device for connecting an unoperated counting device to the selecting mechanism and for preventing further operation of said operated counting devices until after the value indicated thereon has been added by said adding device, and means for restoring each operated counting device to its unoperated condition after the value indicated thereon has been added by said adding device.

5. In combination with a selecting and releasing mechanism for selecting and dispensing articles of different character from storage, a system for indicating and registering the values of dispensed articles comprising, a plurality of storage relay groups controlled by the selecting mechanism, a plurality of rotary switches respectively associated with said plurality of storage relay groups and operable thereby, each one of said storage relay groups including a relay for each denomination occurring in the value of an article to be selected, each one of said rotary switches being interconnected respectively with its associated denominational relay, means for retaining said storage relay groups in an operated condition and for moving said rotary switches to positions corresponding to the storage relay energized, said last-mentioned means also operating when one of said storage relay groups is operated to connect an unoperated storage relay group with the selecting mechanism, an adding device controlled by said plurality of storage relay groups and adapted to add up the values represented by the moved positions of the rotary switches associated with each one of the storage relay groups, and switching means controlled by movement of said rotary switches for releasing each storage relay group and rotary switch after said adding device has added the values represented by the moved positions of the rotary switches.

6. In combination With a selecting and releasing mechanism for selecting and dispensing articles of different character from storage, a system for indicating and registering the values of dispensed articles comprising, a plurality of storage relay groups controlled by the selecting mechanism, a plurality of rotary switches respectively associated with said plurality of storage relay groups and operable thereby, each one of said storage relay groups including a relay for each denomination occurring in the value of an article to be selected, each one of said rotary switches being interconnected respectively with its associated denominational relay, means for retaining said storage relay groups in an operated condition and for initiating the movement of said rotary switches to positions corresponding to the denominational relay energized, an adding device controlled by said plurality of storage relayv groups and adapted to add up the values: represented by the moved positions of the rotaryswitches associated with each one of the storage,

relay groups, switching means in circuit with and controlled by said retaining means and adapted,

to interrupt the operation of the selecting mechanism when one of the storage relay groups is caused to operate, and signal means controlled by said switching means and operable when all the rotary switches for one denomination have been operated.

'7. In combination with a selecting and releas of said storage relay groups including a relay for each denomination occurring in the value of an article to be selected, each one of said rotary switches being interconnected respectively with its associated denominational relay, means for retaining said storage relay groups in an operated condition, further means for moving said rotary switches to positions corresponding to the de-- nominational relay energized and adapted to interrupt the circuits of each unoperated rotary,

switch until the first operated rotary switch has been moved to its proper position, relay means operated by said retaining means to connect an unoperated storage relay group with the selecting mechanism, an adding device controlledby said plurality of storage relay groups and adapted to add up the values represented by the moved, positions of the rotary switches associated with each one of the storage relay groups, and switching means controlled by movement of said rotary switches for releasing each storage relay group and rotary switch after said addin device has, added the values represented by the moved posi-,

tions of the rotary switches, said retaining means including a relay in circuit with the plurality of storage relay groups and adaptedto interrupt the circuits of each unoperated rotary,

switch until the first operated rotary switch has been moved to its proper position.

8. In combination with a selecting and releasing mechanism for selecting and dispensing articles of different character from storage, a

plurality of counting devices for each denomination of the value of an article and including a plurality of storage relay groups and a like plurality of rotary switches respectively operable thereby, said plurality of storage relay groups being controlled by the selecting mechanismto' advance the rotary switches to positions corresponding to the values of articles selected, a second plurality of rotary switches corresponding respectively to each denomination of the value of an article, relay means interconnecting said first and second pluralities of rotary switches for causing the same to advance simultaneously, the

second plurality of rotary switches thereby adding the values of articles selected, and means operative when said first plurality of rotary switches reach said positions corresponding to the values- 

